Switch actuating mechanism



A ril 5, 1966 E. E. KUSSMAUL 3,244,827

SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

I 1', Ill

6 72 74 EDWIN E. KU MAUL :ij' e4 fflff 6% 1- 8 4 Q SWITCH ACTUATINGMECHANISM Filed Dec. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. EDWIN E.KUSS UL ww *7/ ATTORNEYS United. States Patent3,244,827 SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM Edwin E. Kussmaul, Westwood, Mass,assignor to Kelek Company, Norwood, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Filed Dec. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 244,375 6 Claims. (Cl.200-50) The present invention relates generally to switches, especiallyswitches having high current carrying capacity. Such switches are used,for example, as service entrance, isolating or transfer switches. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an actuating mechanism for suchswitches.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a mechanism foropening and closing the switch by means advantageously located inrelation to it. Hitherto, where the blades are joined by an insulatingyoke it has been the practice to provide a bracket secured to the yokeand attached to an operating link, the link being connected to the freeend of a pivoted operating arm. This arrangement has the disadvantagethat the pivotal axis of the operating arm is situated substantiallybelow the switch blades in the usual, vertically-mounted installation.Since the line side of the switches is normally at the top, the fusesare commonly immediately below the blades and are obstructed by theactuating mechanism. .Accordingly, a more advantageous location of theactuating mechanism is at or above the level of the switch blades,whereby the fuses are unobstructed by the operating mechanism.

A second object is to provide a switch actuating mechanism havingresilient action to assist in fully closing and opening the switch.

A further object is to provide a mechanism having provision forindependent access to the fuses, said mechanism including a safety doorlock which, in the open switch position, permits unobstructed accessthrough a fuse access door to all fuses. Since fuses of the typecommonly used on such switches are bolted in position, such access isrequired for the insertion and turning of a wrench.

With the foregoing and other objects hereinafter appearing in view, thefeatures of the invention include the provision of a telescoping sleeveand plunger operating arm mechanism utilizing a universal joint and asingledegree-of-freedom pivot in conjunction with the operating arm,said arm being pivoted about an axis advantageously located in relationto the switches.

Another feature resides in the use of a spring situated within thesleeve and plunger assembly to assist in opening and closing the switch.

A further feature resides in a combination safety interlock and positionindicator device which is useful in enclosed wall-mounted orfree-standing installations wherein all of the switch handle and theindicator-interlock device are preferably enclosed.

Other features of the invention reside in certain details ofconstruction, arrangement of parts and modes of operation which willbecome more fully evident from the fol-lowing description of a preferredembodiment, having reference to the attached drawings wherein FIG. 1 isa front view of a three-phase switch with covers removed, showing thepreferred embodiment of the switching actuating mechanism.

parts except the external operating 3,244,827 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 FIG.2 is a fragmentary plan view of the switch actuating mechanism with theoperating handle turned to a position midway between the open and closedpositions;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation taken from the right as viewed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the enclosed switch illustrating theposition indicator and fuse access door interlock features; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings, the switch is provided with a frameconsisting of two steel side angles 12 to which is bolted a metalbackplate 14. The illustrated embodiment is a three-pole switch havingidentical pole assemblies 16, 18 and 20. It will be evident that theinvention may be used with any desired number of poles. The pole 18, forexample, has an insulating base 22 bolted to the backplate 14. A hollowtubular line pole 24 of generally square cross-section is secured in anysuitable manner, not shown, to the base 22. A load pole 26 of similarconstruction is fastened in a similar manner to the base 22. A hinge pin28 is supported in the pole 26 and pivotally supports two pairs ofswitch blades 30. The blades are mutually fastened by an upper shaft 32(FIG. 3) which in the closed position is received within a slot 34 ineach of two jaws 36 extending from the pole 24.

As illustrated, the switch is of a simplified construction wherein eachpole comprises two jaws and four blades frictionally engaging to makeelectrical contact in the closed position. This arrangement providesgreater contact area and cooling surface, and permits the use of arelatively thin gauge of tubing for the pole members, thus reducing skineffect. In practice, it is preferred to provide each pole assembly withfurther means, not illustrated, for positively engaging and disengagingthe blades in relation to the jaws, as described in the Kussmaul et al.Patent No. 2,960,590. However, the details of such means form no part ofthe present invention and are not shown in order to simplify the presentdescription.

The pole assemblies 16 and 20 are constructed in the same manner as thepole assembly 18, and the blades of all three pole assemblies arerigidly connected to a yoke 38 constructed of insulating material suchas phenolic resin, by means of bolts 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the yoke 38is preferably supported on brackets 42 either directly connected to theswitch blades, or indirectly connected thereto as described in saidpatent.

A bracket 44 is bolted to the yoke 38, and a swivel pin 46 is pivotallysecured to this bracket. As hereinafter further described, the actuationof the switch is accomplished through the linkage provided by the pin46.

On the load side of the switch there is provided an insulating bar 48bolted to the side angles 12 and securing load side terminals 54 52 and54. Fuses 56 are bolted between the load side terminals and the loadpoles.

A rigid, fixed handle post 58' is secured to one of the side angles 12so that its horizontal axis intersects the horizontal pivotal axis ofthe switch blades at right angles. A bracket member 60 comprising atubular part and a pair of bracket arms welded thereto is rotatablyreceived on the post 58. A hexagonal head portion integral with themember 60 is adapted to receive a matching socket on an operating handlehub 62 having an integral handle 64. The hub 62 is assembled to thebracket member 60 I? by a single bolt 66. Thus the handle 64 may beassembled to the switch in any one of twelve positions, separated bythirty degrees, in relation to the angular position of the bracketmember 60.

The bracket member 60 is pivotally secured to one end of a sleeve 68 bymeans of a pin 70. The opposite end of the sleeve 68 is open andreceives a hollow plunger 72 in slidable relationship. The plunger ispinned to a clevice 74 pivoted at its outer end by means of a pin 76 tothe swivel pin 46.

A compression spring 78 is situated within the sleeve 68 and resilientlyurges the plunger 72 outwardly therefrom.

It will be seen that the sleeve 68 and plunger 72 comprise a telescopingoperating arm assembly where-by rtational movement of the bracket member60 about the axis of the post 58 is transmitted to the yoke 38 so as tocause pivotal movement of the switch blades 30 about the axis of theirpins 28.

The preferred position of the operating handle 64, as

illustrated, is directed upwardly towardthe line side of the switch whenthe latter is in the closed position. The dimensions of the parts andtheir mutual arrangement is such that the handle moves through an angleof 60 from the closed position to the open position whereby, if

the handle is 60 from horizontal in the closed position,

it will move the switch to open position when rotated through that angleto the horizontal position. It will be observed that in the latterposition no part of the switch actuating mechanism extends substantiallybelow the axis ,of the switch blades and there is unobstructed access tothe fuses 56. The advantageous location of the actuating mechanism inrelation to the switch blades is altorded by the combination of thesleeveand plunger assembly with its pivotal connection to the bracketmember 60 and the universal joint provided by the clevice 74 and swivelpin 46.

The spring 78 is partially compressed in the closed position of FIGS. 1and 2. FIG. 3 shows that the spring has a force component tending tourge the yoke 38 clockwise as viewed in the drawing, that is, to holdthe switch closed. As the operating arm 68, 72 is pivoted, the yoke ispivoted counterclockwise and this force component is first reduced tozero, then begins to increase in a counterclockwise direction tending toopen the switch more fully.

It will also be understood that the mechanism is operable without thespring 78, which may therefore be eliminated if its additional operatingadvantages are not desired. In that case the plunger 72 may be solidrather than of hollow construction.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the switch is preferably surrounded by adead-front enclosure 79 provided with a fuse access door 80. A separatecover 82 encloses the switch portion of the assembly and has an openingthrough which the handle hub 62 extends, and through which the handlehub may be assembled to the bracket member 60. A combinationindicator-interlock member 84 is secured to the hub 62 and is adapted toproject over the fuse access door 80 when the switch is in the closedposition asillustrated, and to be pivoted away from the door when theswitch is in the open position. A pointer 86 on the member 84 is locatedto indicate the position of the switch.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention whichemploys two telescoping operating arms 88 and 90 each constructed likethe arm 68, 72 described above. The arm 88 is provided with an operatinghandle 92. The arms are swiveled to a yoke 94 and form equal butopposite angles with it. By this means the lateral forces exerted by theoperating arms upon the switch closing mechanism are neutralized. Theresulting force upon the yoke 94 is then in the same direction as'thatin which the yoke pivots.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an improvement overpreviously proposed switch actuating mechanisms, whereby the safety andconvenience of the switch are increased through the location of themechanism in a non-obstructive relationship to the fuses. The operatinghandle 64 is in a position where it may be readily grasped by theoperator, and provision is made for alternate locations of the handle.

It will be understood that an insulating sleeve may be inserted as a lowfriction liner and also as an insulator preventing a current flow to theoperating handle in the event that the parts 44, 46, 74 and 76 shouldbecome alive.

It will be understood that while the invention has been described withreference to a specific and preferred embodiment, various modificationsmay be incorporated therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A blade switch actuating mechanism having, in combination,

a support,

a switch blade pivoted about a first axis in the support,

a bracket pivoted about a second axis in the support normal to the firstaxis,

and an arm assembly extensible between two ends thereof, said endsrespectively having pivotal connections to the switch blade and to thebracket, said connection to the switch blade comprising a universaljoint and said connection to the bracket restraining the arm assemblyfrom rotation relative to the bracket about any axis parallel to saidsecond axis,

said combination including means causing the arm .as-

sembly to rotate about said second axis directly with the rotation ofthe bracket, thereby causing said arm assembly to transmit a torqueabout said first axis to the switch blade.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which the arm assemblycomprises a telescoping sleeve and plunger.

3. The combination according to claim 1 in which the arm assemblycomprises a telescoping sleeve and plunger, and including a springurging the plunger resiliently outwardly from the sleeve.

4. The combination according to claim 1 including means tendingresiliently to extend the arm assembly, the ends of the arm assemblybeing positioned to produce a force component in the closed switchposition tending to hold the switch closed.

5. The combination according to claim 1 including means tendingresiliently to extend the arm assembly, the ends of the arm assemblybeing positioned to produce a force component in the closed switchposition tending to hold the switch closed and a force component in theopen switch position tending to hold the switch open.

6. A switch having, in combination,

a support,

a switch blade pivoted about a first axis in the support,

poles on the support associated with the switch blade,

one of said poles having a connection for a fuse,

a bracket pivoted about a second axis in the support normal to andadjacent the first axis,

an arm assembly extensible between two ends thereof, said endsrespectively having pivotal connections to the switch blade and to thebracket, said connection to the switch blade comprising a universaljoint and said connection to the bracket restraining the arm assemblyfrom rotation relative to the bracket about any axis parallel to saidsecond axis, 1

a cover for the fuse, and

an interlock member attached to the bracket and pivotal therewith to aposition in locking relationship to the cover,

said combination including means causing the arm as: sembly to rotateabout said second axis directly with the rotation of the bracket,thereby causing said arm 1,490,935 4/ 1924 Miller 200-50 assembly totransmit a torque about said first axis 1,491,244 4/1924 Palmer 200-50to the switch blade, 1,812,896 7/1931 Olley 200-50 said interlock memberlocking the cover in one posi- 2,531,165 12/1950 Scheuermeyer 200-48tion of the switch and unlocking the cover in the 5 3,016,420 1/ 1962Mero 178l8 other position of the switch.

FOREIGN PATENTS References the Examiner Canada.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Re 15,718 11/1923 Wadsworth 10 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY,Primary Examiner.

528,615 11/1894 Shaw 200'-50 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Examiner.

1. A BLADE SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM HAVING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT,A SWITCH BLADE PIVOTED ABOUT A FIRST AXIS IN THE SUPPORT, A BRACKETPIVOTED ABOUT A SECOND AXIS IN THE SUPPORT NORMAL TO THE FIRST AXIS, ANDAN ARM ASSEMBLY EXTENSIBLE BETWEEN TWO ENDS THEREOF, SAID ENDSRESPECTIVELY HAVING PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS TO THE SWITCH BLADE AND TO THEBRACKET, SAID CONNECTION TO THE SWITCH BLADE COMPRISING A UNIVERSALJOINT AND SAID CONNECTION TO THE BRACKET RESTRAINING THE ARM ASSEMBLYFROM ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE BRACKET ABOUT ANY AXIS PARALLEL TO SAIDSECOND AXIS, SAID COMBINATION INCLUDING MEANS CAUSING THE ARM ASSEMBLYTO ROTATE ABOUT SAID SECOND AXIS DIRECTLY WITH THE ROTATION OF THEBRACKET, THEREBY CAUSING SAID ARM ASSEMBLY TO TRANSMIT A TORQUE ABOUTSAID FIRST AXIS TO THE SWITCH BLADE.